The cranial nerve zero (terminal nerve an interdisciplinary view of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology

El nervio craneal cero (nervio terminal): una visión interdisciplinaria entre la neuroanatomía y la neurofisiología

Introduction: in the international Terminologia Anatomica the term nervus terminalis or cranial nerve zero is included. However it does not appear, referenced in physiology texts, which indicates dissociation between these fields of knowledge of basic science. An integration and rapprochement between these two fields of knowledge enable a better understanding of the structure and function of this cranial nerve. Methodology: many physiology texts and articles were reviewed to determine whether physiological studies or notations referring to nerve terminal function and integrated to the existing morphological knowledge. Discussion: although much of the gross neuroanatomy and histology of the nervus terminalis have been described, in the field of physiology there is much ignorance about this nerve and many of their functional annotations are based on assumptions. However, it has proven to be a passage for the migration of neuroblasts, and thus its structure could be organized into two parts: a hollow for neuroblast migration and other elements for propagation of action potentials. Conclusion: the nervus terminalis is composed of nerve fibers with unknown function autonomously and, surrounding it, a compartment by way of conduit migratory neuroblasts.